Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Syracuse University Athletics
Syracuse Basketball Player DaShonte Riley Transfers to EMU
6/15/2011 4:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Detroit product will have two seasons left after sitting out his transfer year in 2011-12
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Head Men's Basketball Coach Rob Murphy has announced that Syracuse University men's basketball player DaShonte Riley will join the Eagles' program.
"We're very fortunate to get a player with the ability, skill and size of DaShonte in our program," Murphy said. "DaShonte is also a quality young man which makes it great to have him join us here at EMU."
"Syracuse has a great program with a lot of tradition and was a very good environment, but I wanted to be closer to my family," Riley said of his transfer. "Obviously, Coach Murphy recruited me at Syracuse and we already had a great connection so that is why I chose to come to Eastern Michigan."
The 7-foot Riley, a graduate of Detroit Country Day , was a member of the Syracuse men's basketball program the past two years. He played in 17 games as a true freshman in 2009-10 and saw extensive playing time in the NCAA Tournament while filling in for starting center Arinze Onauku. He finished the year with a 1.4 scoring average and a 1.5 rebound mark.
Riley was awarded a medical hardship in 2010-11 after breaking his foot. After sitting out the 2011-12 season he will have two seasons of eligibility for the Eagles.
While a high school player, Riley earned All-State honors as a senior on Head Coach Kurt Keener's Country Day squad. Riley participated in the 2009 adidas Kentucky Derby Classic and was named 15th team All-American by Hoop Scoop. He was ranked ninth among the centers in the Class of 2009 by Scout.com and was rated the 17th center and 123 overall in the Class of 2009 by Rivals.com. He was the captain of the team that finished 28-2. Country Day won four games in the state tournament before falling to Flint Powers Catholic in the quarterfinals.
As a junior, Country Day was 25-5 overall, falling to Flint Powers Catholic in the state quarterfinals. During his sophomore year, Riley helped lead Country Day to the class B state championship on the way to a 25-7 record. He was named to the MHSAA state playoff All-Tournament Team that season.
"We're very fortunate to get a player with the ability, skill and size of DaShonte in our program," Murphy said. "DaShonte is also a quality young man which makes it great to have him join us here at EMU."
"Syracuse has a great program with a lot of tradition and was a very good environment, but I wanted to be closer to my family," Riley said of his transfer. "Obviously, Coach Murphy recruited me at Syracuse and we already had a great connection so that is why I chose to come to Eastern Michigan."
The 7-foot Riley, a graduate of Detroit Country Day , was a member of the Syracuse men's basketball program the past two years. He played in 17 games as a true freshman in 2009-10 and saw extensive playing time in the NCAA Tournament while filling in for starting center Arinze Onauku. He finished the year with a 1.4 scoring average and a 1.5 rebound mark.
Riley was awarded a medical hardship in 2010-11 after breaking his foot. After sitting out the 2011-12 season he will have two seasons of eligibility for the Eagles.
While a high school player, Riley earned All-State honors as a senior on Head Coach Kurt Keener's Country Day squad. Riley participated in the 2009 adidas Kentucky Derby Classic and was named 15th team All-American by Hoop Scoop. He was ranked ninth among the centers in the Class of 2009 by Scout.com and was rated the 17th center and 123 overall in the Class of 2009 by Rivals.com. He was the captain of the team that finished 28-2. Country Day won four games in the state tournament before falling to Flint Powers Catholic in the quarterfinals.
As a junior, Country Day was 25-5 overall, falling to Flint Powers Catholic in the state quarterfinals. During his sophomore year, Riley helped lead Country Day to the class B state championship on the way to a 25-7 record. He was named to the MHSAA state playoff All-Tournament Team that season.
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